When I awoke the next morning I shifted uncomfortably, wondering what the weight on my body was until I opened my eyes to find myself looking at Loki's emerald linen-clad chest with his hand under his head so my head rested on his arm and his other arm draped over my ribs. I looked down at myself and followed the blue-clad arm curled over my waist to find Steve snuggled up behind me with his face pressed into my back as he snored quietly. "Good, you're awake." A whisper caught my attention and I turned my head in time to be blinded by a white flash. I scowled, rubbing my eyes and looked over to find Clint grinning at me with Sam standing behind him, camera-phone held ready. "Morning, Kid," Clint greeted.
"Hi," I mumbled tiredly, shifting to try and free myself without waking either of the men lying beside me. As I sat up, both arms tightened their hold on me, pulling me down again.
"I had no idea Loki was so cuddly!" Sam chuckled.
"I'm not as surprised as I should be," I sighed. I looked over to the pair of bird-men watching me and shrugged. "What do I do?" I asked.
"Lie still and smile," Sam told me, raising his camera-phone in front of his smiling face. I frowned again as he took another picture; this time without flash.
"Oh, I've had enough of this," I grumbled, wriggling around and sitting up quickly, startling Steve and Loki into wakefulness.
"What is it; are we under attack?" Steve demanded, sitting up sharply and looking around.
"No; you and Loki just wouldn't let me go," I told him, standing and hissing as my calf throbbed sharply, making me lift my foot from the ground to keep my weight from the limb. Loki and Steve glanced at each other and Loki stood quickly, his armour magically reappearing as he did.
"I think it's sweet how you let your guard down around your girlfriend," Clint mocked, half-playful half-aggressive, smirking at Loki.
"'Tis a pity you cannot let your guard down around your little strumpet," Loki retorted bitterly, flicking his gaze over to the sleeping Natasha and back.
"What did you just call her?" Clint demanded, stepping forward and taking his bow off his back.
"Strumpet," Loki repeated coolly. "At least my choice has high enough standards to keep her maidenhood intact. How many men has the spider bedded merely for the sake of something to do?"
"Well, I'm bugging out here," I decided, turning my back on the two and flicking my hands dismissively. "I'm too tired and sore for this nonsense." I limped over to the far side of the clearing where the horses were pegged and greeted Helfin affectionately, stroking his neck as I looked through my bags for an antiseptic cream and a fresh bandage.
"How dare you insult Natasha like that?!" Clint snapped, loud enough to wake most of our companions. I looked back at them over my shoulder, choosing to remain with the horses rather than getting in the middle of yet another conflict. "At least Natasha has never fathered monsters!"
"Neither have I!" Loki snarled. There was a pause as he realised what he said and all of his anger seemed to drain away, leaving him pale and shaken.
"Loki," Thor said softly, standing and looking his brother over closely. Loki stared straight ahead over the cliff, making no acknowledgement. "Fenrir, Jormungandr… They are yours, are they not?" Loki glanced at Thor from the corners of his eyes and slowly shook his head. Thor blinked rapidly, nodding pensively. "And Sleipnir?"
"No," Loki murmured, looking down. "I have no children. You assumed, and I didn't correct you…"
Silence reigned for a moment until Thor broke it. "I'm sorry, Brother." Loki shook his head indifferently, stooping to retrieve his cloak from where I had slept.
"It matters not. We should move. Pack up; it's a long way back to Asgard."
"Does this mean we have to ride again?" I asked, shifting uncomfortably. Loki looked at me blankly and nodded.
"Tie Helfin to Sleipnir and ride with me."
"Alright," I agreed, sitting down to tend to my leg wound. I unwrapped the bandage and flinched as I saw the raw flesh and infected discolouration. "Loki, how long do you think it will take to get back to Asgard?"
"A day or two, if we make good time," Loki responded distractedly. "Most likely more; the realms are unstable and we are not exactly popular at the moment."
Loki sighed and looked over at me again, frowning in concern. "Miss Carter, are you unwell?" he demanded.
"I may be, by the end of two days," I answered. "The antiseptic seems to be ineffectual on this particular infection."
"Was your wound infected when we left?" Loki inquired, crouching down beside me and laying his cool hand against my calf. I shook my head.
"Not to my knowledge, no." Loki looked into my eyes seriously, concern showing in the tense set of his jaw, and I smiled, shrugging. "Don't worry yet, Loki. With a little luck, I'll be able to fight it off on my own anyway."
"Luck hasn't been particularly favourable towards us recently, Mouse," Loki murmured. I sighed, rolling my eyes.
"Loki, stop darkening my optimism," I complained. I pushed Loki's hand away from my leg and set about smoothing antiseptic over the wound before binding it with a fresh bandage. As I did, Loki took Helfin's reins and tied them to Sleipnir's saddle horn. Once everyone had packed their things, they mounted. I looked up at Sleipnir, biting my lip uncertainly and Loki's long-fingered hands encircled my waist.
"Ready?" he asked, his lips just grazing the tip of my ear. I nodded and Loki lifted me easily, setting me on Sleipnir's back side-saddle and mounting up behind me. We adjusted ourselves so my knee was over his and his arms were around my ribs, holding the reins. This meant that my side rested against his torso and I sighed, laying my head against his chest comfortably. With one final look around, Loki nudged Sleipnir forward and our group departed.
"This is a treacherous path," Loki warned me after some moments of silent riding as I chewed on some bread and cheese as a portable breakfast. I tilted my head back to look up at him, offering him a bite of my food.
"Metaphorically, or…"
"We shall have to go on foot in certain places," Loki elaborated, biting the sandwich in my hand.
"Ah," I huffed, nodding around my bite of sandwich. There was another short pause until Loki swallowed his mouthful.
"I can carry you, if you think you are unable to walk…" I clicked my tongue, shaking my head up at Loki with a smile.
"No, Loki; I can walk. But thank you; that's very sweet of you to offer." Loki said nothing, keeping his head up and watching our surroundings.
"Really, I never knew Loki had the capacity for such gentleness…" I tilted my head, listening as Sif whispered loudly to Thor and the Warriors Three. "He was never so caring to any of us in our childhood. You must remember, Thor. We used to wonder over Loki's strange behaviours; preferring to read over hunting, avoiding our festivals and celebrations… What tricks do you think he is playing with the Midgardian? He has no respect for her people or her realm; why does he treat her so?"
"I do not think it is a game, Sif," Thor replied in a quieter tone, obviously making more of an attempt to be discreet. "I believe Loki genuinely cares for Ellie Carter." Loki's arms tightened around my ribs briefly, and I knew he was listening as I was.
Sif snorted derisively. "He can't! That plain little child?"
"That plain little child has been a better friend to Loki than any of us even tried to be," Thor growled lowly. "We tried to change him, make him more like us; and when he didn't alter his preferences for our benefit, we mocked him… No, Sif. I do not think Loki is playing Ellie. And I think he always had the capacity to care. We just never let him." Sif scoffed again.
"Thor, this is Loki we're talking about! All he ever did was envy us and cause trouble without ever trying to improve himself…" I had heard enough and reached into my saddle bags to pull out a water bottle. Popping the top, I leaned around Loki, aimed, and sprayed water all over Sif, making her squeak in surprise. When the bottle was empty, Sif glared at me murderously and I stared back at her with a bitter curl to my lip.
"We can hear you," I grumbled, turning away again and shoving the bottle back into my bag. I felt Loki shaking and looked up to find him smiling brightly, clearly amused. Taking the reins in one hand, Loki slipped his fingers under my palm and lifted my hand, ducking his head to press a gentle kiss against my fingers before releasing me and readjusting the reins. I smiled contentedly, resting my head against Loki's chest again. After a few minutes more, Loki halted Sleipnir and the group came to a stop behind him.
"The next portal is just on the other side of these cliffs," Loki announced. I stared at the deep canyon in front of us. There was a shallow shelf across the divide against the face of another cliff that towered above us. Loki dismounted and reached up to put his hands around my waist and gently bring me down from the horse.
"You've known Sleipnir longer than you've known me; if this rock gives way, which one of us would you choose to teleport to safety?" I asked Loki, holding onto his arms and staring up into his eyes nervously. Loki said nothing, rolling his eyes and freeing himself from my grasp. "You're not filling me with confidence here, Princeling," I drawled as he unfastened Helfin and held the reins out to me. Loki sighed, standing over me.
"I do not wish to tempt fate with postulation, Mouse," he murmured, brushing his thumb across my temple to push a lock of hair out of my face.
"Fair enough," I acknowledged, bowing my head. Everyone dismounted and we started to ease our way across the rock shelf. Steve was at the fore, followed by Bucky, Natasha, Clint, Sam, Bruce, Loki, me, Sif, Thor, Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg; each of us leading a horse.
I had my back pinned to the cliff behind, shuffling along in an awkward sort of crabwalk. Steve, Bucky, Natasha, Clint, Sam and Bruce were on the other side of the pass and I had just passed the halfway point when a shudder went through the stone and everyone froze. Turning my head, I looked down at the cracks spreading out from beside my back foot, past Helfin's hooves to Sif and her mount. Swallowing tensely, I pulled Helfin forward slowly and held his reins out to Loki. "Take him; keep moving," I ordered lowly. Loki shook his head.
"Ellie…"
"Take the horse, Loki," I hissed aggressively. Loki huffed, staring at me and accepting Helfin's reins, slowly drawing him and Sleipnir away and leading them safely to the other side. I looked back at Sif and held out my hand. "Pass me the reins," I said quietly. Sif carefully drew her horse along, pausing every time the stone trembled, and finally managed to pass the reins to me.
I pulled the horse along carefully and held the reins out to Loki, who had stepped forward to take them. He led the horse to the other side again and I stepped away from the cracks. Sif took a cautious step and a few loose pebbles fell from the edge of the shelf. The cracks spread further again, stretching out to meet my feet and Thor's on the other side of Sif. Sif shifted her weight to take another step and the rock gave way. "Sif!" I screamed, throwing myself forward to land on my front as my fingers tangled with the Asgardian's. I cried out as Sif's weight caught on my arm and she shouted as her side slammed into the cliff wall. I stretched out my other arm to take her wrist and Sif's free hand wrapped around my wrist. I whimpered as her heavier frame started dragging me forward through the spilt. "Help, help, help…" I pleaded softly.
Suddenly, there was a weight pressing down on my legs and arms curled around my waist as another figure moved at the edge of my vision on the other side of the break. Meaty hands wrapped around mine and Sif's and I sighed in relief as some of her weight was taken from me. Slowly, the arms around my waist started pulling me backwards and the hands moved further down Sif's arms as she was lifted higher until they could grab her forearms and pull her up. Our fingers were pulled apart, and I was suddenly hauled back so I was sitting on the edge of the gap with Loki's arms encircling me tightly as he sat back against the cliff face. I looked up to find Sif sitting at the edge of the break in front of Thor, panting as heavily as I was. Green light engulfed my vision and I was suddenly sitting safely on the other side of the crevasse, still held in Loki's arms. "Go back," Loki called out to Thor and the rest still on the other side. The group started shuffling back and Loki stood, lifting me to my feet and turning me to face him, cupping my face in both his hands. "Are you hurt?"
"Only a little; I'll be fine," I responded softly, experiencing the familiar tingling feeling of excess adrenalin leaving the bloodstream. Loki nodded and released me, turning to watch as Thor pulled Sif back to the other edge of the crevasse. When they were safely on the other side, Loki vanished, reappearing next to Thor and Sif.
"Sif," Loki said softly and held out his arms to her. She shifted uneasily, frowning, and Loki thinned his lips in displeasure. "I will take you across the divide," he added. With a glance back at Thor, Sif stepped forward and Loki turned her back to him and slipped his arms around her shoulders. They disappeared, materialising beside me. Without a word, Sif broke out of Loki's loose hold and threw her arms around my neck, holding me tightly. I was startled, to say the least, but after a moment, I put my arms around her ribs, smiling. Loki watched us with an undecipherable expression before teleporting back to the other side again.
Sif pulled away from me with a warm smile and we both turned to watch as Loki brought the horses across one by one before bringing Volstagg, Thor, Hogun, and lastly Fandral across. As soon as Loki released Fandral he stumbled, falling to one knee and pressing his knuckles against the earth, breathing heavily. Thor took a step towards his brother, but I darted forward quicker, kneeling in front of Loki as he trembled with exhaustion, skin pallid and shining with a light sweat. I placed my hand on his shoulder and he sat back on his heels, shaking his head. "Not your skin," he told me huskily.
"What does he mean?" Thor asked, taking a knee beside us both. Loki flicked his gaze up to Thor's face coolly and I replied.
"When his energy has been drained through magic, he'll siphon someone else's if their skin touches his. He's taken some of mine before; during the battle in Miami." Loki lowered his head again, frowning uncomfortably and pressing his hands against the ground again.
Thor sighed, holding his hand out to Loki. Loki looked at the offered hand before raising his eyes to meet Thor's guardedly. "Take my energy, Brother," Thor said softly. Loki shook his head, curling his lip slightly in bitterness. "Brother, please; let me help you," Thor pressed. When Loki looked unconvinced, I rolled my eyes impatiently.
"Loki, you either take Thor's energy now, or I give you mine whether you want it or not." Loki gripped Thor's hand suddenly and Thor flinched, staring at Loki as he climbed fluidly to his feet, standing over Thor and looking down on him blankly. I stood and Sif approached behind me, clearly intending to separate them. I put my hand out to stop her, taking her wrist. She looked at me anxiously and I shook my head.
"Loki won't hurt him," I assured her quietly. Sure enough, it was only moments later that Loki released his grip on Thor and turned away, looking down. He glanced at me from the corner of his eye coolly.
"Satisfied?" he asked lowly.
"Quite," I confirmed casually, releasing my hold on Sif and crossing my arms. "Where do we go now?"
"Mount up and follow me," Loki commanded quietly, walking over to Sleipnir. The others all did as they were instructed without complaint and I looked up at Helfin's saddle, biting my lip nervously. A gentle hand touched my shoulder and I looked up to find Steve smiling at me warmly.
"Ride with me," he said. I sighed in relief and smiled, nodding.
"Thanks, Cap," I agreed, following him and leading Helfin as Loki mounted quickly and turned Sleipnir away, nudging him on. The group fell in quickly and I hurriedly tied Helfin to Steve's horse's saddle horn as he spurred him to follow. Loki led us into a small hollow in the ground where he and Sleipnir both vanished through the portal. We all followed and found ourselves in a vast, red canyon blurred with smoke and flickering with flame.
"This is Muspelheim. Be cautious; this place is crawling with fire demons," Loki warned us. "If Heimdall won't collect us, it means that they must be nearby…" Our convoy continued to wind its way slowly through the maze of natural stone, the heat making me exceedingly uncomfortable as my hair was soon plastered to my neck and I kept needing to peel myself away from Steve.
Dusk fell and Loki pulled Sleipnir up. "There is still about a day's travel to go from here; we should camp for the night," he informed us. As soon as I slipped off the horse's back, I sat down and held my face in my hands, breathing deeply. I was awfully hot and it was making me feel rather nauseated and my head ached terribly. "Ellie, are you okay?" Steve asked, putting his hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off immediately, squirming away from him.
"Too hot," I panted, pulling my hair up over my head away from my neck. My leg throbbed and I bit my lip, sliding off my boot and pushing up my pant leg and sliding down the bandage to examine the inflamed wound with its oozing yellow pus. I swallowed tensely and covered it quickly before anyone else saw it.
A fire pit was found and everyone gathered, passing food around. Bucky, sitting beside me, held out a piece of jerky to me and I shook my head, declining the offer. "You've hardly eaten today, Ellie," he said in his whisper-voice.
"I don't want any food, Bucky," I insisted quietly. Bucky peered at me closely, frowning with anxiety.
"You look flushed," he told me, leaning over so he could press his non-metal hand against my forehead. I pulled away from him and had to put my hand out to brace myself when the motion made my head spin.
"Ellie, what's wrong?" Bruce asked, squeezing my shoulder. I pushed his hand away.
"I'm just too hot, that's all," I explained, blinking rapidly. "Could I have some water, please?" I asked softly.
"Of course," Bruce said, waving to one of the others. While he waited for the water, he shifted towards me and pressed his hand against my forehead, grabbing my arm to hold me still when I tried to back away from his touch. "Ellie, you have a fever," he told me quietly, sliding his hand down to my neck.
"It's too hot," I complained, pushing at Bruce's hands. "Go away; it's too hot and my head hurts."
"Ellie, you're not well," Bruce told me in his gentle, soothing voice. "Here; I have your water." I took the bottle from Bruce's hand eagerly with both of mine and gulped the contents quickly, pouring the last remnants over my head. "Ellie, I need you to tell me what's wrong," Bruce pushed.
"I'm fine; I'm just too hot," I sighed, panting and looking up into Bruce's eyes from under my eyelashes.
"Check her leg," Loki ordered sharply from his place on the other side of the fire.
"Right; of course," Bruce agreed, reaching out to me again. I slapped his hand away, hissing and baring my teeth at him.
"I said I'm fine!" I snarled aggressively. "Just leave me alone!"
"Ellie, please. I'm trying to help you…"
"I don't care," I squeaked, bowing my head and grabbing at my scalp, whimpering.
"Check her leg," Loki repeated in a low, dangerous voice I hadn't heard in a long time. I glanced up at him past my arm and he stared into my eyes sternly. "Don't fight, Miss Carter." I glared at him resentfully, baring my teeth at him aggressively and growling. Bruce carefully slipped one hand behind my knee and the other under my ankle and eased my leg out straight onto his lap. I winced, sitting back, and watching as he pushed my pant leg up to reveal the wound. He took a startled breath, looking up at me with wide eyes and a worried frown.
"El, why didn't you say anything?" he wondered softly.
"I'm fine," I snapped.
"No, you aren't," Bruce refuted. "This is a serious infection. Loki, we need to get Ellie somewhere where she can be taken care of; given antibiotics and saline and so on."
Loki nodded, standing. "The next bridge takes us to Midgard," he informed us. "Heimdall can take us from there. Pack up; it will take several hours to get there."
"Is it safe to travel at night?" Sam asked. Loki glared at him coldly.
"No, it is not. But if the doctor believes that Miss Carter is in danger, we shall have to brave the darkness and hope that nothing untoward happens on our way."
"I'm fine; I just need some sleep," I argued, curling up on my side with my arm over my head, whimpering quietly at the pain.
"That's right, El. You go to sleep, and we'll let you know when we're ready to go," Bruce soothed, patting my side. I pushed his hand away clumsily.
"Don't touch me; it's too hot," I groaned, wondering why the others didn't seem to understand my discomfort. I was hovering on the edge of slumber when a hand touched my shoulder and I flinched away from the contact, struggling to blink my eyes open.
"Ellie, we have to leave now," Thor told me gently.
"Okay, bye," I sighed, closing my eyes again.
"No, Little Warrior; you need to come with us," he said, putting his hands around my arms and pulling me into a sitting position. I frowned, trying to pull away.
"Thor, it's too hot to go anywhere," I grumbled. Thor smiled at me sympathetically.
"I know, but we have an important journey to make." I sighed, nodding, and Thor lifted me to my feet, keeping his paws locked around my arms to support me.
"I'm so tired," I mumbled, blinking rapidly to try and clear the fog from my mind.
"Ride with me," Loki said, touching my shoulder softly. I shrugged him off, shaking my head.
"No, it's too hot," I denied plainly.
"You cannot ride alone," Loki told me firmly, scooping me up bridal-style and setting me on Sleipnir's back. I whined unhappily, trying to push him away weakly as he mounted behind me and put his arms around me. "Let's go," Loki ordered, and Sleipnir started moving.
"Let go of me," I hissed, trying to wriggle out of Loki's clutches. In response, his arms tightened around me, holding me against his torso. "No! Loki, it's too hot!" I complained, pushing at the leather sticking to my side.
Suddenly, the armour vanished in a ripple of green light, leaving less uncomfortable green linen. I stopped fighting for a moment until that material started to heat up against me, too, and I struggled again. "Loki, go away!" I snarled, trying to push him back from me. The linen vanished, and I found my hands pressed against something cold and soft and blue. I leaned into the cold automatically and sighed in relief, wrapping my arms around it and laying my face against it as it soothed my aching head and eased my nausea. I hummed contentedly, closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep. I woke again when there was a rough jolting and I whimpered as a hollow feeling gripped my insides for a moment. The cold surface I was leaning against moved, and I felt myself falling until two cold bands wrapped around me under my shoulders and knees. There was a quick to-and-fro motion and a slight breeze against my face until I was laid down on something soft and Loki's voice was talking sharply.
"Fix her. She is useful, and I want her back in working order." I was lifted again and plunged into what felt like water, but it burned with cold and I squealed, trying to fight my way out. When my shoulders were pressed down I screamed, trying to claw at the restraints get away from the stinging. I was picked up again and wrapped in something soft before being placed on a flat surface and held down again while my calf was split open again and scraped out and burned with something sticky and I cried, unable to help myself. Finally, something sharp bit into the side of my neck and numbness spread through me, blacking out my vision and stopping the pain.